Lewis brings a fresh take on these tropes, incorporating Celtic mythology and lore to craft an—quite literally—Otherworldly hero who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals and who also embodies a relatable persona that readers will undoubtedly connect with.” —Booklist, starred review

“Be prepared, it will be hard to take a break from Erika Lewis’s The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts. The action leaps off the page, rich in ancient Celtic mythology and taut with emotion, with characters who are flawed, human, and awesomely gifted. Middle-grade readers with a thirst for high adventure with all the feels, in the tradition of J. K. Rowling, Tamora Pierce, and Lloyd Alexander, have reason to rejoice.” —Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Wonders series

“You’ll be on the edge of your seat while reading, and while waiting for more to come in this rich and engaging world. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and the Harry Potter series.” —Janet Fox, award-winning author of The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle

“Fast-paced and oh-so-fun, this exciting story celebrates the importance of friendship and the power of kids’ choices. I couldn’t put it down!” —Alyssa Colman, author of The Gilded Girl

“With vivid world-building and a marvelous blend of mythology and magic, Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts is a rip-roaring ride pulsing with the heart of its fierce and tenacious heroine! The opening installment of this epic new fantasy series will leave readers clamoring for more.” —Alysa Wishingrad, author of The Verdigris Pawn

“Move over Hogwarts, there’s a spellbinding new school in town. Enroll yourself for myth, mystery and magic. Not to be missed!”—Cavan Scott, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: The Rising Storm

“...Successfully centers a resilient heroine tapping into her unrealized potential.” —Publishers Weekly

2021-12-15
Magical fighting abilities are a must when facing the forces of the Lands of Winter.

Kelcie Murphy’s field trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is permanently over when her foster care case worker and a police officer suddenly appear and drag her off to the bowels of the museum. Things go from odd to magically creepy when the pair are revealed to be fairies who attempt a mysterious ritual, which leads Kelcie far away to the Lands of Summer. There, she stumbles across the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts, a school that recruits the best of the best to battle fairies and other baddies from the Lands of Winter. Fantasy fans will find a lot of similarities between the academy and another famous magical school, from students’ being assigned to color-coded Dens to the mysterious and aloof head. This novel may appeal to some readers, especially those with a love of mythology and folklore, but overall, it feels clichéd. The setting along with the dense text, large cast of characters, and an emphasis on bullying and violence at the school combine to create a banal rendition of Harry Potter as told through the lens of a Celtic-themed Hunger Games. Pale, freckled, redheaded Kelcie is White.

The magic of Katniss McPotter, er...Kelcie Murphy falls flat. (glossary) (Fantasy. 9-12)